Apparatus for producing gas in coke ovens



29, 1933- J. VAN ACKEREN 1,924,819

APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING GAS IN COKE OVENS Filed Aug. 11, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet l DUR I F \CATION ADDAQATUS.

Ill l .INVENTOR.

ATTOR E 1933- J. VAN ACKEREN 1 924519 APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING GAS IN COKE OVENS Filed Aug. 11, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Aug. 29, 1933 UNITED STATES APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING GAs 1N COKE OVENS Joseph Van Ackeren, Pittsburgh, Pa., assignor' to The Koppers Company of Delaware, a corporation of Delaware Application August 11, 1927. Serial No. 212,203

2 Claims.

My invention relates to apparatus for and methods of producing gas in coke ovens and it has particular relation to means for controlling the thermal value of gas from coke ovens.

An object of my invention is to provide a simple means for controlling, within predetermined limits, the thermal or B. t. u; value of gas from coke ovens.

A further object of my invention is to provide automatic means whereby the thermal value of gas from coke ovens may be mantained substantially uniform.

a A 'still furtherobject of my invention is to provide means whereby the steam employed for quenching coke from vertical coking retort ovens may be utilized to control the thermal value of coke-oven gas produced by a battery of such ovens.

In the sale of heating gas to public utility systems, it is the usual custom to furnish such gas upon the basis of its thermalvalue. A penalty.v is usually imposed if the thermal value is below a predetermined limit. However, no premium is paid if the quality of the gas is above the required limit. It is desirable, therefore, to so control the thermal value of the gas that it will always be above the required value but that it will not exceed this value by any considerable degree.

In accordance with the present invention, I pro vide means whereby the thermal value of gas produced in a battery of vertical coking retort/ovens is automatically manta-med substantially constant. When the thermal value of the relatively rich coke-oven gas is higherthan required, it is diluted by being mixed with relatively lean water gas formed by the passage of steam through the incandescent coke. The steam utilized is that employed for quenching the coke after it emerges from the ovens. The quantity of lean gas that is thus formed and combined with the coke-oven gas is automatically controlled by a device which measures the thermal value of the combined gas.

My invention will be described in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a view, in vertical transverse section, of a coke-oven battery and associated apparatus embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view, taken on line II-II of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a slightly reduced sectional view, taken on line IIIIII of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view, taken on line IV-IV of Fig. 3.

Referring particularly to Fig. 1, a battery 1 of vertical coking retort ovens of the continuous type comprises a foundation 2 that is supported by a series of columns 3 and upon which foundation is mounted an oven structure comprising outer walls 44 and. 5 and an inner wall 6. The usual framework comprising buckstays 7 is associated with the walls 4 and 5. Y

Between the walls 4 and 6 are a numberof vertical coking retorts 8, through one of which the sectional view is taken, one of the heatingwalls 9 which alternate with the retorts 8 also appear.- ing in this view. Regenerators 10, having sole channels 11, are located between the walls 5 and 6.

A superstructure 12 that is supported by framework 13 provides a support for a charging car 14 for supplying coal magazines 15 for theseveral retort ovens 8. Each of the ovens 8 is provided with a primary gas offtake 16 that is connected to a primary collecting main 17. A secondary gas oiftake 18 that is located below the top of each of the retorts for the purpose of discharging gas that is evolved at a lower level is connected to a secondary collecting main 19. Producer gas or other lean gas is supplied through the sole channels 11 from a gas'main 20 that is provided with regulating valves 21. A main 22 conducts waste gases from the regenerators to the stack.

The structure surrounding each of the retort ovens 8 issupported by a hollow frame .23 that is connected to the foundation, as will be later described. Suspended from the frame 23 is-a hollowcasing 24, within which is located a powerdriven coke-extractor mechanism 25. .A coke magazine 26 is suspended from the casing 24 and is arranged to discharge its contents into a cokereceiving car 27 that operates beneath the battery.

A gas main 29, usually designated as a pressure main, is connected to the primary collecting main 17 and conducts the gas into what maybe termed a suction main 30, the connection between the mains 29 and 30 being controlledby a suitable pressure regulating device diagrammatically indicated at. 31. Gas from the suction main 30 passes through suitable gas purification apparatus, indicated at 32, and througha main 33 to the usual by-product house (not shown).

A pipe 34, that is connected to the interior of the frame 23 of each oven 8, in a manner to be later described, is connected to a header or 001 lecting main 35'which is, in turn-connectedtoa condenser 36. Theoutlet'for the condenser- 36 is connected, by means of a pipe ,37, to the suction main 30. The connection between the header 35 and the condenser 36 is controlled by a valve 38 to which is connected a suitable motive device, such, for example, as a torque motor 39,-

having a crank arm 40 that is connected to the valve 38 by means of a link 41. The motor 39 is controlled by a device 43 for measuring the B. t. u. value of the combined gas in the main 33 and is connected to the motor 39 by conductors 44.

The device 43 may, for example, comprise a calorimeter of standard construction having the usual means for controlling an electrical circuit in accordance with the B. t. u. value of the gas being measured.

Reference may now be had to Figs. 2, 3 and 4, in which the detailsof one of the hollow supporting frames 23 and associated apparatus are more clearly shown. The frame 23 is provided at each of its ends with projecting flanges 46, which extend into the adjacent foundation. walls which are usually of reinforced concrete construction. The frame 23 is provided at its upper portion with hollow flanges 47 that are connected to open ducts 48 at the ends of the frame, whereby air may circulate therethrough and pass outwardly through openings 49 and ducts 50 in the base of the battery into the atmosphere. This feature of the construction is described and claimed in my copending application Serial No. 183,085, filed April 12, 1927.

- The interior of the frame 23 is providedwith a refractory lining 51 that has spaced verticallyextending ducts 52 that communicate at their tops with the interior of the oven chamber'and are connected at thebottoms thereof with horizontal ducts53 within the base of the frame. The frame 23 is provided with reinforcing lugs 54 adjacent to the vertical ducts 52. The horizontal ducts 53 in the base of the frame are connected to one of the pipes 34. I

The coke-extractor mechanism 25, which is located in the casing 24 beneath theframe 23, comprises a series of toothed members 55 that rotate in the direction of the arrow (Fig. 2) to remove coke from the column that is emerging from the oven 8.- A series of weight members 56 that are pivotally supported at 57 tend to restrain any loose coke from falling from the side of the column before it has been quenched. The coke-extractor mechanism 25 is driven by any suitable power device (not shown). The casing 24 is provided with any desired number of pipes 58, one only of which is shown, through which steam may be injected for quenching coke.

In the operation of the several coke ovens of the battery 1, coal is supplied from the magazines 15 at suitable intervals to the corresponding columns of coal and coke in the oven chambers 8. Each column is continuously descending slowly in the oven chamber 8, fresh coal being added at the top of the column and finished coke emerging from the bottom of the oven chamber and being removed from the base of the column by the'coke extractor 25.

Gas that is evolved during the coking operation is collected through the ascension pipes 16 and primary collecting main 1'? and the secondary gas offtakes 18 and secondary collecting main 19. All of the gas thus collected is conducted from the battery through the main 29.

'As the column of coke descends, it passes through the supporting frame 23 and thence into the casing 24, where'it is quenched by'being subjected to steam'applied byrneans of the several pipes 58 and their associated nozzles. The steam is heated and expanded by its contact with V the hot coke and is under sufficient pressure to force it upward into the frame 23.

The pressure of the steam within the casing 24 is greater than that in the oven chamber 8 or that in the system comprising the ducts 52 and the header 35 which is connected to the suction main 30. It will be understood that the ratio bet. een the pressures in the oven chamber 8 and the header 35 is varied by the adjustment of the valve 38. This ratio determines the division of the steam from the casing 24. The steam containing a very small amount of water gas passes upwardly through the interior of the supporting frame 23 and a portion is withdrawn downwardly through the vertical ducts 52 and then through horizontal ducts 53 and associated pipe 34 to the header 35. The frame 23 and associated parts are cooled by the escaping steam.

The remainder of the steam, which has been superheated by contact with hot coke, passes upwardly through the column of incandescent coke to form water gas that is of much lower thermal value than the coke oven gas, with which it mixes during its upward passage. The combined gas is Withdrawn from the oven chamber and is'con ducted to the main 30.

The steam that is collected by the header 35 passes the valve 38and is conducted into thecondenser 36, Where it is condensed and the traces of water gas therein are conducted through the pipe 37 into the suction main 3Q.

The combined coke oven gas and water gas passes from the main 30 through the purification apparatus 32 into the pipe 33, where its thermal value is measured by the device 43. If the thermal value of the combined gas is below a predetermined value, the measuring device 43 causes the motor 39 to adjust the valve 38 to permit a larger quantity of steam to be withdrawn from the header 35. A correspondingly smaller amount of steam accordingly enters the'oven chamber to form water'gas. The proportion of coke oven gasto water gas is thereby increased and the thermal value of the gas is correspondingly raised.

If the thermal value of the combined gas exceeds a predetermined value, the measuring device 43 operates in a corresponding manner to efrecta decrease in the amount of steam withdrawn whereby an increased amount of water gas is formed and combined with the coke oven gas and the thermal value of the 'combined'gas is correspondingly lowered. If the measuring device 43 and the valve mechanism controlled thereby are adjusted to operate in a manner that is usual to regulating devices of this character, the regulation may be within relatively close limits and the thermal value of the gas flowing through the main 33 may be maintained substantially constant.

It will be appreciated that gas supplied from coke ovens equipped in accordance with my invention is of substantially uniform thermal value. Inasmuchas the thermal value maybe maintained approximately that upon which payment for the gas is based, substantially full compensation will be received for the gas furnished. In prior practice, it has been necessary to provide that the thermal value of the gas was in excess of that required in order that it might notfall below the minimum value, in which case a penalty would be imposed.

The foregoing and other advantages will be apparent to those skilled in the art of operating coke ovens-for the production of gas.

I claim as my invention:

1. The combination with a vertical coking retort oven having a main for receiving gas therefrom, and means for supplying steam for quenchink coke at the base of said oven and in communication therewith, said steam tending to enter said oven to form Water gas which combines with the coke-oven gas therein, of a pipe for withdrawing a portion of said steam used in quenching said coke and before it enters said oven, a regulator comprising a device for measuring the thermal value of the combined gas, and a valve in said pipe that is controlled by said measuring device for Varying the flow of steam in said pipe.

2. The combination with a vertical coking JOSEPH VAN ACKEREN. 

